Joetta’s Newsletter
Hello, Friends & Neighbors!
Local Family Does Good
The first thing I want to do is congratulate the Schultz family on the continued success of Schultz’s Gourmet. And now you can be a part of it!
Schultz’s Gourmet is Colorado’s own gourmet cooking hot sauces and seasonings company. This is not your usual “hot sauce”! Schultz’s Gourmet is a true cooking hot sauce because they use only the finest ingredients (a blend of peppers, fresh garlic and olive oil), which is why so many chefs cook with their sauces and seasonings.
In fact, the chefs at INVESCO Field and CU Boulder’s Folsom Field have chosen to cook with Schultz’s Gourmet for their fans at this season’s football games!!
Schultz’s Gourmet will be introducing their sauces and seasonings to the public at local Costco stores over the next few weeks. Stop by, say “Hi”, try a sample, and take some home.
(P.S. to my Pomona Lakes neighbors – the Schultz’s are Carrisa Strain’s husband’s family.)
This weekend Schultz’s Gourmet will be at the Arvada Costco (5195 Wadsworth). September 2 through 5.
Thornton Costco September 9-12 (16375 N. Washington St.)
Sheridan Costco September 23-26 (4000 River Point Parkway)
Aurora Costco October 7-10 (1471 S. Havana St.)
My Blog Posts for the Past Month
I’ve been busy blogging this month! To read some of my posts, click on any titles that interest you below. If you don’t get this newsletter via email, go to HomesDenvertoBoulder.com, or call me and I’ll print out any articles you want.
What You Need to Know About Short Sales Now
Five Parks Neighborhood Update
Lake Arbor Neighborhood Update
Max Fund – A No Kill Animal Shelter
Legislative Changes Affecting Colorado Homeowners
What’s up with Westminster Mall?
No Mortgage Payment for 3 Months for First Time Homebuyers
Are you hoarding things kids could use?
Autumn is a great time to clean out those basements, attics and garages of ‘stuff’ you’ve hung on to for a long time and will probably never use again. Some of that stuff, your local kids could make good use of. When I got my digital camera I took my manual 35 mm cameras to Pomona High School. The photography teacher there said those old cameras would allow more students to take photography classes.
Besides cameras, musical instruments are always needed. Call your local school, see what they might need. Sometimes, they have even more desperate needs.
Jeffco Schools Homeless Program
To those of you who donated items to Jeffco Schools Homeless Students Program goes a BIG Thank You!
Jessica Hansen, who met with me to explain the program and what they needed most, sent a card that read:
“Dear Joetta and friends, thank you very much for providing families who are experiencing homelessness with hygiene supplies. We are so thankful for your support during these difficult times.”
(I know this was a while ago, Jessica sent the thank you card promptly, I’m late in telling you about it.)
School has started again. If you would like to donate items for students who are struggling with the stresses of homelessness (maybe get together with some friends or a group you belong to?) you can contact Jessica atjrhansen@jeffco.k12.co.us, or call Sheree Conyers at 303-982-0830.
Cookie Lee Jewelry Fashion Show
Shop and see the new jewelry Saturday, September 25 from 1 to 4 pm. You will want to arrive early to get the best deals off the inventory reduction sale table! Show starts at 2 pm.
Where: Trinity Presbyterian Church 7755 Vance Dr Arvada, CO 80003 located at 78th & Wadsworth (Northeast corner). Please park in the far north area of the church or in the Wells Fargo parking lot and enter the church by the door located at the north end – lower level.
View the catalog online: www.CookieLee.biz/CindyStrain Questions or orders please call Cindy 720 334-0568
MaxFund (No-kill Shelter)
Last month one of my readers mentioned that she worked at Max Fund, a no-kill animal shelter in Denver. So I invited her to share about it. I did write a post (in the list above), but I’ll summarize here.
Max Fund was started when a Denver vet named Dr. Bill Suro and his wife Nanci took in a dog that needed several surgeries and long-term rehabilitation. They let their friends, other vets, staff and pet lovers know about the situation and started a fund to get this loving dog back on his feet.
You guessed it, I’m sure – his name was Max. A shelter was born.
For additional info on Max Fund to to www.MaxFund.org. The shelter is located at 1025 Galapago St., Denver CO
Get Ready for the Shred-A-Thon
Do you have stacks of old credit card statements, bank statements, tax forms, medical statements, or other items containing personal information lying around?
If so, gather them up because on Saturday, October 16 you can have them shredded safely and securely. The Arvada Police Department and Shred-it will be at the Arvada Center from 8:00 am until noon. It’s free but they are taking donations to benefit the Arvada Police Department’s Explorer’s Post #2027. Limit of 3 boxes or garbage bags per household
Real Estate News – is it Good or Bad?
The answer is … both! But you’ve probably only been hearing the bad news, so I’ll tell you some of the good news you might have missed.
2010 median sold price through June is $210,000. 2009 median sold price through June was $191,330. Prices are up slightly, and days on market are falling. 2008 days on market were 105, 2009 was 102, 2010 is 83. These figures are based on sales in the entire MLS area, taken directly from MLS on 8/8/10.
Breaking it down into smaller areas, starting with Adams County, year to date median sold price is up 12.2% from last year, Broomfield County year to date median sold price is up 5.8%, Jefferson County year to date median sold price is up 4.7%.
But don’t break out the champagne just yet! Most people believe average and median prices are rising due to a different mix of homes being sold – we seem to be getting out of the worst glut of foreclosures and short sales, and more higher-priced homes are selling.
So this news doesn’t mean your house will sell for more than it would have last year. A market analysis on your own neighborhood, performed by a professional real estate agent familiar with the area, along with a trend analysis, is what you need before you can know for sure.
Are You Upside Down on Your Mortgage?
FHA has started a program for those who owe more on their house than it’s worth, and who are current on payments and who don’t currently have an FHA loan.
So if you fit into those parameters, read on –
The plan requires the current lenders to agree to ‘write off’ 10% of what is owed. Smart lenders will do this, because if the home ends up in a short sale or a foreclosure it will cost them far more.
If this plan might help you or someone you know, go to http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-173
If you have input for, or a response to, this newsletter, I’d love to hear from you.
Joetta Fort~ Metro Brokers ~ 720-353-8031 ~ Joetta.fort@gmail.com
My website (see all available homes here): www.DreamHouseHunting.com
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I write posts on real estate issues and local events in the Denver metro area, especially those *communities between Denver and Boulder, as a public service. My hope is to give people an idea of the ‘flavor’ of our community, in case they’re new or moving to the Denver area.
I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly *suburbs northwest of Denver.
*Arvada, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Westminster; also Thornton, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Northglen, Lakewood
I do tire of writing profiles about myself, I'd much rather talk about you! So please email or call me sometime.
And if you're looking for someone to maybe help you buy or sell a home in the vicinity north of Denver, Colorado and you'd like to learn more about me, visit my website, DreamHouseHunting.com.
If at least a little info would be helpful, I've lived in Arvada since 1993, I've been a licensed, full-time real estate agent since 2001. You can read some past clients' testimonials on my website.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Joetta Fort, Broker Associate
Equity Colorado 